The Ekiti State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Erelu Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, has called on residents of the state to embrace environmental cleanliness as a collective responsibility, stressing that a clean environment is critical to public health and sustainable development.
The Commissioner made the call during the January edition of the State Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise, which was observed across the state .
Erelu Aluko-Ajisafe reiterated the state government’s ban on the use of styrofoam food containers, describing the material as harmful to both human health and the environment.
“Styrofoam is non-biodegradable and constitutes a major source of environmental pollution. It blocks drainage systems, contributes to flooding and releases harmful chemicals when used for hot food, which poses serious health risks to residents,” the Commissioner said.
She urged residents, food vendors and event organisers to adopt safer and environmentally friendly alternatives, noting that strict adherence to the ban would significantly reduce waste pollution and improve environmental hygiene across the state.
The Commissioner also commended environmental health officers and relevant non-governmental organisations for their support of the monthly sanitation exercise, calling on them to continue to carry out their duties with professionalism and civility.
According to her, “Enforcement must always follow due process, and officers should avoid taking the law into their hands.”
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Dr. Sunday omoya encouraged environmental health officers and NGOs to intensify their commitment to the exercise, noting that their consistency and dedication have contributed to its effectiveness statewide.
The state director Environmental Health and Sanitation, San. Ayodele Aluko also encouraged the good people of Ekiti State to take Sanitation as a daily routine so as to guard against any form of Epidemics in our environment.
Prevention is better and cheaper than cure.
Meanwhile, enforcement activities during the sanitation exercise led to the arrest and prosecution of 66 defaulters who failed to participate. Out of the number, 14 persons were pardoned, while 52 offenders were fined by the sanitation court.
